. >> reporter: the pentagon calls the cuts stupid. and it's hard to disagree. get this, there's billions of dollars the pentagon wants to cut, but isn't allowed. like the upgraded m1 abrams tank, $3 billion. and the spy drone, $2.5 billion. you might think there would be urgent meetings at the white house, but there are none. no meetings or phone calls between the president and republican leaders. jonathan karl, abc news, the white house. >> certainly not encouraging. >>> it's expected to be an emotional day in the senate as lawmakers consider a revamped assault weapons ban. among those expected to testify are the parents of a child killed at sandy hook elementary. the nra promises to fight any restrictions on gun ownership. >>> and one-fifth of americans polled by kaiser family foundation admits they know a victim of gun violence. among the african-americans polled, 42% say they know a gun crime victim. 75% of latinos, 62% of african-americans and 30% of whites worry about being victimized themselves. >> i have to say, this is a story that transcends not -- an